Apparatus for moving soaking pit covers



Nov. 19, 1935. c. H. MAsTELLER 2,021,865

APPARATUS FOR MOVING SOAKNG PIT COVERS Filed Nov. 2, 1954 s sheets-sheet 1 Nav. 19, 1935.

c. H. MAsTELLER APPARATUS FOR MOVING SOAKING PIT COVERS Filed Nov. 2, 1934- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mzm.

Nov. 19, 1935. c. H. MASTELLER 2,021,866

APPARATUS FOR MOVING SOAKING PIT vCOVERS Filed Nov. 2, 1954 zsheets-sneet s I 7 lmumf: EN' :wf/MMM d'forney.

Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES Pa'rlnvrl opt-ICE l l fanzines Y Carl H. Masteller, Mount Vernon, Ohio, assignor to Surface Combustion Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of New York Application November z, 1934, serial 1ra-751,103 s claims. (ci. zes-1o) This invention relates to furnaces of the type used in steel mills for heating ingots. Such furhaces are known as soaking pits and are provided with covers for closing the top of the heating chamber or pit. I

The invention has for its object to provide a cover moving mechanism which shall permit the cover to be seated on the furnace structure in closing the pit and which shall permit the cover to be elevated from said structure preparatory to moving the cover laterally. The various features of novelty and invention will be more fully explained in the detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying .drawings vforming part of this specification.`

Referring to the drawings wherein the preferred form of the invention is shown.

Fig. 1 shows (in'vertical section) a part-of the upper portion of a` soaking pit with the improved cover operating mechanism (in side elevation associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. l with some parts omitted to expose otherwise hidden parts;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 2; ,l

Fig. 7 illustrates the relationship between certain parts in one position of operation, the part in section corresponding to line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Figs. Sand 9 are fragmentary detail views of modified forms of construction, and

Fig. 10 is a view comparable to Fig. 'l except that it is based on the modified form of construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

A soaking pit usually embodies in one structure a plurality of heating pits or chambers arranged side by side, each pit having its own cover and operating mechanism therefor. In the present case only so much of a soaking pit is shown as will suilice to illustrate the invention. The top of the masonry structure wherein the pit is formed is indicated at I. One of the pits is indicated at 2 and adjacent pits at 2a. and v2b. 'I'he cover for the pit 2 is indicated at 3 'and those for the adjacent pits at 3a and 3b. The cover itself may be of any preferred construction but as shown it comprises a main frame 4, a peripheral shoe 5 for seating on the top I and refractory brick or tile 6 which is suitably supported by the trame 4.

` shaft bearings II for a shaft I5 and at the other 'I'he cover is swlngably coupled to an overhead carriage which runs on two track beams 1 disposed above and between adjacent pits, the beams being shown as wide enough crosswise to provide a track for the carriage associated with the ad- 5 gacent pit. 'Ihe cover-operating mechanism for each pit is the same and therefore a description of one will suillce for all. 'Ihe track beams are supported-in any preferred manner as on structural steel pillars 8, 8a and 8b, the beams being preferably lnon-movably secured to one of the pillars 8 and movably secured to the other pillars 8a and 8b respectively, to allow for longitudinal expansiony and contraction of the beams. '1'5 'I'he carriage from which the cover is suspended comprises a steel frame made up of structural steel shapes welded together to form a rigid unit. the sides of the frame being indicated at 9 and its ends at I0. At one end ofthe frame are aligned end are aligned bearings I2 for a shaft I6.f Depending from the four corners of the carriage are `of the cover is not then supported by the carriage.

As will presently appear, the vertical slack thus provided between the cover and carriage is taken up when the carriage is moved upwardly.

Supported on the carriage, as on beams I1 and I8 and a plate I8, are an electric motor 20 and a speed reducer 2l, latter having a stub shaft 22 which is supported at its outer end in a bearing 23 supported on beam 24. Keyed on the shaft 22 are two similar sprockets 25 and 28. The 40 sprocket 251s connected by a sprocket chain toa sprocket 21 keyed on theshaft I 8 and the sprocket 26 is connected by a sprocket chain 25 to a sprocket 28 keyed on the shaft I 5. As shown, the shafts I5 and I6 may comprise aligned sec,- 45 tions connected by couplings 3l and 32, respectively, and supported intermediate their ends by bearings 33 and 34, respectively.

Keyed on the ends of shaft I5 arecoupling members 35; and keyed on the ends of .shaft I6 50 are similar members 35. Bolted to each member 35vas by bolts 40, are a track wheel 31 and a body 39; and bolted to each'member 35, as by bolts 44, are a track wheel 38 and a body 43.

.,The'wheels 31 and 38 have the same diameter 55 wheels 31 for reasons presently appearing Each body 39 comprises a pinion 4I and a small wheel- 42 and each body 43 comprises a wrist portion 45 and a small wheel 48. All of the small wheels 42 ander have the same diameter and run on tracks as hereinafter described: and they constitute supplemental wheels for taking the load of the carriage at certain times as hereinafter more fully explained.

Mounted on the top of each track beam are two longitudinally spaced bars 41 and 48. These parts are duplicated and are arranged in pairs (Figs. 2 and 3) 'on' the beams that extend between adjacent pits. Each bar 41 comprises a gear rack 49 for coactlng. with the pinion 4| and a track 50 for coacting with the small wheel 42 associated with the pinion. 'I'he bar 48 is like the bar 41 in that it has a track 5| but is unlike it in that it has no gear rack. Both bars have a dip or depression intermediate their ends. The dip in the track 50 is indicated at 59' (Fig. l) and that in the track 5I at 5I When the cover 3 is seated to close its pit, the wheels 42 and 45 contact with the bottom of dips 58' and 5I', respectively, and the load of -the carriage is then supported by said small wheels. When the load of the carriage is thus supported, the flanged wheels 31 and 38 do not rest lon any track, the tracks on which they would otherwise rest being provided with depressions or dips 53 and 54, respectively, (Fig. 2) to prevent them from taking the carriage load. Manifestly the tracks might throughout the depressions 53 and 54 be cut away; but such cutl ting away would be a matter of added and unnecessary expense in fabrication.

Referring to Fig. 3, the track for the wheel 31 at either side of the track dip is indicated at 55 and 56, and the corresponding track for the wheel 38 is indicated at 51 and 58,-all of these tracks being in a common level and being part of the track beams 1.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will 'be seen that the pinion 4| enters a dip .48' in the gear rack when the small wheel 42 is in its dip in the track 58. As the pinion is turned by the shaft I5, the load of the carriage is eventually transferred from the wheels 42 (and 48) to the wheels 31 (and 38). This transfer of load occurs by reason of the track 50 (and 5I) having a down gradient with respect to the level portion of the track on which the wheels 31 (and 38) ride when supporting the load of the carriage (and cover). The line a-b in Fig. 6 may beftaken as showing the path of the pinion in travelling out of its rack dlp, it being noted that both the track 58 and rack gradually slope downward from their highest levels. Since the drive shaft I5 (and shaft I5) rotates at a uniform spe zd it will be readily understood that as soon as the load of the carriage is transferred from the small wheels 42 (and 45) to the large wheels 31 (and 38) there will be a step-up in the rate of movement of the carriage. This is a. desirable arrangement since it permits the slack between the carriage and the pit cover to be taken up slowly and with minimum shock; and conversely the cover may be seated to on the pit with minimum shock.

When thecover is to be moved to fully expose its heating pit, it is moved towards the left as viewed in Figs. yl and 3, the limit of movement of the carriage being the abutments I 53 at one end of the beams/.1. However, it is sometimes desirable to move the cover a limited distance to- Ward the right as viewed in Figs. l and 3 to partially open the pit as for inspection of the ingots .between the tracks 55 and 55.

- right-hand movement, the limit of movement being the abutments |52 at one end of the beams 1. In order to fully expose the heating pit, the rear wheels 38 of the carriage must of necessity travell beyond the rack-and-track bars.41. Provision is therefore made to permit the wrist portion 45 associated with' the rear wheels 38 to clear the racks 49 and to prevent said wheels from ridinginto the depressions 53 (see Fig. 6) 10 In accordance with the form of the invention shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thlsis accomplished by making the rear wheels 38 of wider tread than the front wheels 31 and by providing an elevated track 59 between 15 the dip 53 and the rack 49 (see Fig. .7). The wheel 38 on approaching the rack 49 travels up a ramp 50 leading to the track 59 and then down a ramp 8| at the other end of said track, it being understood'that the track 59 is of suili- 20 cient height to permit the wrist portion 45 to clear therack 49.

-Another arrangement -for preventing the rear wheels 38 from entering the dips 53 alongside of the rack bars is shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. In 25 accordance with this construction, the pinion 4I of each front wheel 31 is at the outer end of the small wheel 42' (the reverse of the arrangement of Figs. 1-7) the rack 49' and track 50' on the bar 41 being correspondingly arranged. The 30 track onvwhich the rear wheel rides in order to avoid entering the dip 53 is indicated at 59' and this track is in the same level as the adjacent tracks 55 and 55 (see Fig. 3). When the pinion arangement is as in Fig. 9, the rear wheel ar- 35 rangement is as in Fig. 8, that is to say, there is no part corresponding to the wrist portion 45 (see Fig. 7) the small wheel associated with the wheel 38 being next adjacent to the hub of the wheel as indicated at 48', and the track 5I' of 40 the bar 48 being correspondingly positioned. Fig.

10 shows the relative position of .the parts when the rear wheel 38' passes thetrack-and-rack bar 4-1 when the track and rack are arranged as shown in Fig. 9. 45

As shown in Figs. l and 3, the rack bars 41 are shown as located between upstanding abutments 53 and the track bars 48 as between similar abutments 54, these abutments being integral with the track beams 1. Relative longitudinal 50. adjustment of the bars is obtained by spacer blocks 85.

lIv'he mode of operation may be brieily restated as follows:

Assuming that the parts are initially in the 55 position shown in Figs. l and 3, that is, with the cover in place over the pit. To raise the cover and move it toward the left, the motor 20 is energized with the result that power is applied to the two drive shafts I5 and I5. The pinions 4| 60 being secured to the shaft I5 travel up out of the rack dip. the load of the carriage being meanwhile supported bythe supplemental wheels 42 and 45. During the upward movement of the carriage, the slack with hanger bolts I3 is taken 65 up, the cover is raised from the pit, and the load of the cover taken by the'carriage. By this time the carriage will have travelled sufficiently far for the wheels 31 and 38 to come into play to take the load of the carriage and cover instead of the 70 supplemental wheels 42 and 46; and each pinion will be sufficiently clear of its rack to permit a step-up in the speed of carriage travel due to the difference in diameter between the wheels '31 and 38 and the smaller wheels 42 and 48. In 75 the case of the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the rear wheels 38 pass the rack bars 41 and the dips 53 by riding on elevated tracks 59 which by-pass the said dips; whereas, in the case of the construction shown in Fig. 9, they pass the same by riding on tracks 59' in the same level as the tracks on which the wheels normally ride, it being remembered that the rear wheels have a wider tread than the front wheels thus per-4 mitting them to ride on the special tracks which by-pass the dips 53. While it is preferred that the hanger rods I3 be so adjusted as to length as entirely to relieve the carriage of the load of the cover when the latter is in position `to cover the pit, ynevertheless the adjustment `may be such that the load of the cover is at all'times taken by the carriage. .f

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for moving a pit cover, the combination of a carriage from which the cover is suspended, the carriage having two front and two rear main wheels, each of said wheels including a supplemental wheel coaxial with and of less diameter than itself and each of said front wheels also including a pinion coaxial with a'nd of a diameter less than itself, a dipped gear rack for each of the pinions, a dipped track for each of the supplemental wheels, a dipped track for each of said main wheels, said supplemental wh'eels when in their respective track dips serving to support the carriage at a level which is lower than that in which the carriage is normally supported by the main wheels thereof.

2. In apparatus for moving a pit cover, the combination of a carriage equipped with two sets of wheels, two sets of tracks, the two sets of wheels and the two sets of tracks adapted to cooperate set with set in carriage travel, the tracks of one set being longer than those of the other and being interrupted in continuity, and the tracks of the other set being arranged adjacent the interruptions in the continuity of the longer tracks, whereby in the range of carriage travel the carriage may alternately at intervals rest upon and be borne by one set of tracks and the other, the shorter set of tracks being dipped at points intermediate their extent and adapted to bring the carriage to a lower level than when resting on the longer rails, and means for im peiling the carriage along the rails. 1

3. In apparatus for moving a pit cover, the

combination, with the cover, of a carriage equipped with suspension means adapted to engage the pit cover, such suspension means permitting relative vertical movement within limited range between carriage and cover, the carriage being equipped with a set of wheels, va set of stationary tracks arranged to cooperate-.with said wheels, the tracks being interrupted in continuity, means arranged adjacent the interruption in thecontinuity of the'tracks and adapted to sus- 4. In apparatus for moving a pit cover, the combination, with the cover, of a carriage equipped with suspension means adapted to engage the pit cover, such suspension .means permitting relative vertical movement within limited 5 range between carriage and cover, the carriage being longer than those of the other set and bel5' ing interrupted in continuity, and the tracks of the other set being arranged adjacent the interruptions in the continuity of the longer tracks and being inclined, and by such inclination adapted to bring the carriage to a lower level than 20 when resting on the longer tracks, a pinion coaxially arranged with and integrated with the wheels of the two sets integrated as aforesaid, an inclined rack with which said pinion is in mesh, and means for powerfully rotating the integrated 25 wheels and pinion, whereby in response to such rotation the cover may be raised. from and lowered to a pit mouth during relatively slow progress of the carriage and sustained in fully raised po. sition during relatively fast progress of the car- 30 riage.

5. In apparatus for moving a pit cover, the combination of a horizontally movable wheeled carriage from which the cover is suspended and a track on which the carriage runs, means for 35 lowering theltarriage with respect to said track comprising supplemental carriage wheels of lesser diameter than the main wheels thereof for taking the load of the carriage in the lower level,

a track having a dip wherein the supplemental 40 wheels restv for supporting the carriage at the lower level, the track for the large diameter wheels having a depression alongside of the track for the small diameter wheels, the front largediameter wheels having a narrower tread than t5 the rear large-diameter wheels, and a` track alongside of said depression on which the widetread wheels may ride to avoid entering said depression.

6. In apparatus for moving a pit cover, the v combination of a carriage from which the cover is suspended, the carriage having two front and two rear main wheels, each of said wheels including a supplemental wheel co-axial with and of less diameter than itself and each of said front wheels also including a pinion csaxial with and of less diameter than itself, a dipped gear rack for each of the pinions, a dipped track for each of the supplemental wheels,

a dipped track for each of said main wheels-' the front wheels.

CARL H. MASTEILER. 

